Apparatus for handling mixtures of solid materials



" La ij Aug. 25, 1959 J. P. HUBBELL 2,901,007

APPARATUS F OR HANDLING MIXTURES OF SOLID MATERIALS Filed June 7, 195] 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN F: HUBBELL FIGQI ,WS'

Aug. 25, 1959 J. P. HUBBELL 2,901,007 I APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MIXTURES OF SOLID MATERIALS Filed June 7. 195] 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ll!!! 34 INVENTOR. JOHN P HUBBELL J. P. HUBBELL Aug. 25, 1959 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MIXTURES OF SOLID MATERIALS Filed June 7. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 V INVENTOR. QOHN R HUBBELL Aug. 25, 1959' .1. P. HUBBELL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MIXTURES 0F sous MATERIALS Filed June 7,1951

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4

' INVENTOR. JOHN P. HUBBELL FIG. 5

tion of: the filling means; and t Figure is asectional view taken along line 5-5;of

'IAPPARATUS FOR ANDLING MIXTURESOF p sonn): MATERIALS John P, Hubbell, Garden City,: N.Y.,. .assignor. to..the

United States ofAmericaas represented by the United -States Atomic Energy Commission Application June 7;=195"1','1Serial "Noi 230,308

17 Claims. (CL 141 -73) This. invention'relates generally to a new and irn proved apparatus .forhandling a mixture offinely-subwdivided materials requnring a compacting action. thereon although in its broader aspects it comprehendswthe hanand which "also must be-compacted to give a body of appreciable density, it is evident that special equipment i istrequired since aaaconventionaldispensing and filling structure is inadequate for these purposes.

The invention therefore has as an object the provision of a new and improved apparatus for fillingcontainers with a substantially uniformly dispersed mixture ofsolid materials.

A second object is to provide a new and improved apparatus for compacting a mixtureof solid materials withina container.

" A third object is to provide a'new and improved; ap-

: nparatusvfor preventing escape of dust during the filling of a container with-finely subdivided materials.

A further object is to; provide" afilling and compacting inapparatus which may beoperated byremote control.

Another object is to provide a new and improved-com;

bination of filling apparatus and automaticallyretractable a means for supporting a container to be filled.

Still anotherwobject is to-provide an apparatus for fill- 1 ingcontainers' lined with a fragile material and for com- 'pacting a mixture of materials interiorly of said lined container.

Other objects and advantageswill become apparent as the description proceedswhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying'drawings in which Figure 1 is an assembly view. showing one arrangement ofapparatus capable of-carrying out the invention,

and with theiapparatus being foreshortened in certain in a crucible or bomb container.

' 2,901,007. Patented Aug. 25, 1959 2 and packaging of diverse solid materials it is. especially useful in the handling ofmixtures of finely divided solids preparatory. to a chemicalreducing process carried out For example, in one method of producing uranium metal a mixture of finely divided uranium-fluoride salt and. finely divided magnesium is heated in ametal crucible having a uniformly thick dolomite lining therein. In general, the more compactly such mixtureis packed into the crucible, the more efiiciently the process may be conducted with a given amount of time, heat and labor. However, precautions must be taken to avoid the escape of the radioactive uranium dust and to avoid any damage to. the relatively frangible cruciblelining. .Accordingly, it is anticipated that such a crucible may be suitably preparedprior to positioning in filling position within the apparatus of this invention and may be suitably moved fromsuch filled position to. another station at which the reducing process takes place: In casethe crucible is delivered to an apparatus embodying this invention, with a removable mandrel, employed in lining prepaartion, still in place within said crucible, it is anticipated that suitable mandrel removing means and means for displacing any required portions of the filling-equipment to insure such mandrel removal, may be added to the herein described structure without departing from the invention.

Referring now to Figure l, a base structure it) resting upon foundation line 11 supports a' plurality of upright conclusion of the filling-operation.

Supported by the rods 12, or by supplementary framework members, notshown herein for purposes of clarity, isa platform 14 adapted to support avertically reciprocable filling and compacting structure later to be described. A conventional-motor means 15 adapted to actuate-. said filling andncompacting structure is mounted in anyconvenient manner adjacent said. platform.

For-the purpose of governing the movement of i the the -cradleelevator rod 16 is provided,preferably in a housing 17 disposed below foundation line 11. By

.tmeans of-eonduits- 18:.and 19 a fluid, such as a suitable voil -may besupplied to and removed from the respective endsof'anelongated stationary cylinder Zilwithin which is ta-piston,--not shown rattac hed to the cradle elevator nod- 16.h-{Appropriate seals, fluid'pumping means, and i automaticpressure controlledvalves, :known to the art and formingno-essential part of theinvention, can be plied.through--conduit19and lma y be lowered as the oil is forced-tout through-wonduit: 19, as-when a predeterlmined"compacting pressure -for example, isexerted upon portions to. depict atpreferredcombination of structure r in a single figure.

Figure 2 is a sectional view to. an enlarged scale show- 1 ing the:relationship of the container to befilled and the 1 filling andcompacting means at the beginning of a filling operation. Figure 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale showing the relationship of the filled container and the filling and compacting means altthe conclusion of 'the filling operation.

Figure 4 isuaview. partly in section of the upper por- Figure 3 and on a larger scale.

; the crucible.

wrod 16 is anrenlarged cradle. basesupport 21 adapted tozzcontact loosely.a tresilient butfer. 22 which in turn is '::rigidly 'afiixed toacrucible cradle 13 adjacentthe bottom Iclosure plate -:23.- A iplurality of apertured webs 24,

preferablyare-provided forjmounting the cradle 13 and 6.5: for permitting movement of the crucible'cradle assembly inaverticaldirectiori uponthe-guide rods 12. A crucible Although the invention will be useful in the handling throughtheintermediaryofxspacer. 29-likewise is provided.

A vertical-plate25 having an aperture. 2-6 therein may be employed to space the bottom plate 23 and plates 28 and 29 at the desired vertical distance within the crucible i Y 3 cradle 13. Moreover, during the employment of the improved apparatus any suitable clamping means not shown, which may be desired for detachably clamping the crucible and the several plates of the crucible cradle together as a unit,may be employed without departing from the invention. By means of this arrangement a prepared empty crucible, as in Figure 2, may be moved horizontally to the left as by means of rollers or dollies, not shown, moving on suitable rails and by use of remotely controlled guide means extending through the aperture 26 in plate 25 may be positioned within the cradle assembly as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. After being filled, such crucible preferably is moved to the right away from the cradle, the top layer of dolomite lining placed above the compacted materials, and a top metal cover placed upon the loaded crucible after which further operations, such as a reducing process, may be conducted upon the contents of the packaged container.

With the general arrangement of the improved corn-- bination of apparatus now in mind, reference is made to Figures 2 and 3 showing the crucible and the filling and compacing structure. As will be seen in Figure 2, housing 30 is provided with an annular plate 31 adjacent its lower edge and with a smaller annular plate 32 adjacent its upper edge. having a conduit 34 adapted to be flexibly attached to a suitable vacuum source. Since housing 30 and the vacuum header are to partake of the movement imparted to the crucible cradle 13, it will be apparent that a flexible connection, such as a hose line, Will customarily be employed to establish the vacuum Within the thus described structure.

Poistioned within the housing 30 and header 33 and guided by means of a pair of annular dust removing washers 35 and 36 is a hollow reciprocable filling tube having an inner wall 40 and an outer wall 41 spaced therefrom by an annular vent space 42 and adapted to partake of a reciprocating motion of predetermined range of travel as will later be described. Adjacent the lower end of said filling tube, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5, is a series of apertures 43 in the outer tube 41 establishing communication between the exterior of tube 41 and the vent space 42. Immediately below said apertures is a closure ring 44 completely bridging the space between the inner tube 40 and outer tube 41 and immediately adjacent the lower edge of said tubes is a similar ring 45 serving a similar purpose. Within the inner tube 40 at its lower end is a tamping or compacting spider member 46, best shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figure 2, a suitable open ended crucible, which for example, may consist of an outer metal Wall and bottom 50 and an inner lining 51 constructed of compacted finely divided dolomite, is employed, although the invention is in no Way limited to a crucible consisting of these materials or to the configuration as shown. For example, the bottom of the crucible, rather than being flat as indicated for simplicity may well include a depression for holding the metal later to be derived from the treatment of the mixed materials charged therein. The crucible employed, however, when placed in the crucible cradle and raised into position where the spider 46 is disposed adjacent the crucible bottom, is ready to receive charge materials contained within the inner wall 40 of the filling tube. With the inner tube 40 containing a measured charge of solid materials, a portion of which is indicated at 52, upward motion of the filling tube with respect to the crucible will permit material to fall through the open spider 46. Downward motion of the tube thereupon compacts a part of the thus deposited material and as this action continues a compacted separate layer 53 of mixed materials is gradually built up within the lining 51. Moreover, as will later become apparent, as the filling and compacting action proceeds the entire crucible cradle is gradually retracted to a lower position until by the time the contents of the filling tube Secured to plate 32 is a vacuum header 33' ,4 have been exhausted the several parts have reached the relative positions shown in Figure 3. It will be noted that as the spider 46 moves with respect to the layer 53 of material any change in gaseous volume within the crucible lining is accommodated by passage of such gas along the surface of lining 51, through ports 43, and through vent space 42. This gas will carry fine dust which may tend to deposit within housing 30. Also the outer surface of wall 42 may tend to retain a film of such dust as it passes through header 33. Accordingly, it is contemplated that washers 35 and 36 in addition to their mechanical action of brushing against the outer surface of wall 42 will also serve as loose vacuum seals with the result that as suction is applied to conduit 34 a suitable small flow of air will be drawn into that conduit and thus serve to sweep away such dust from these surfaces.

Referring now to Figure 4, the upper portion of the reciprocable filling tube is shown as comprising a hopper member having a top plate 60 affixed to the outer wall 41 of the filling tube and with an inwardly extending bafile 61 overlying the upper edge of the spaced inner wall 40 of such tube.

Aflixed to the top plate 60 is an upstanding filling attachment 62 including a removable cover plate 63 adapted to be removed during filling of the hopper and to be replaced at the conclusion of the filling operation. As will be apparent, a mixture of materials introduced in a given proportion into this attachment and thence through the hopper into the bottom of tube 40 will be distributed from that tube in the same proportion and will not segregate even if they have widely dilferent specific gravities or particle size. Moreover, excess air displaced from the apparatus during filling or subsequent operation may be vented through a vacuum line 64 attached to the cover 63 and communicating with the interior of the filling attachment 62.

As shown in Figure 1, the filling tube, hopper and filling attachment may be mounted to reciprocate as a unit and are supported on diametrically opposite sides by similar crossheads 70 and 71 attached to the hopper sides and adapted to ride upon similar vertically disposed spaced stationary guide rods 72 and 73. Referring to Figure 4 it will be seen that the crosshead 70 has a pin 74 upon which a driving crank rod 75 is pivoted, the rod 75 in turn being pivoted at its lower end to a rocking lever 76 rigidly attached to rocker shaft 77. This rocker shaft which is mounted in substantially horizontal position upon platform 14 carries a second rigidly afiixed rocking lever 78 which is pivotally mounted upon an eccentric sheave 79 adapted to be driven by an cecentric 80 afiixed to a rotatable shaft 81 which is driven in turn by motor 15. A similar arrangement of a crank rod and a rocking lever arm attached to the rocker shaft preferably is employed to drive crosshead 7-1. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other mechanical drive arrangements for lifting and lowering the filling equipment through a desired range may be employed without departing from the invention.

As will thus be seen, rotation of shaft 81 which may be effected in any suitably controlled manner by remote control of motor 15 etfects a vertically reciprocable movement of the filling and compacting elements of the invention,'the range of movement of which is established by the eccentric drive, the length of the lever arms and the mounting of the crossheads, all as above described. The operation of motor 15 may be controlled by appropriate means, as for example by the use of microswitches, not shown, adapted to be operated by the movement of the crucible cradle 13. It is contemplated that motor 15 will be inoperative during the period when the crucible cradle is lifted to leading position; during the actual filling of the hopper and inner tube 40 and following the loading of a crucible. In the latter instance, it is undesirable to shake into the air any dust left on the wall of tube 40 after the loading operation and it is within the purview of the invention to provide a suitable means, such as apan or the like, not shown, adapted to rest underthe spider 46 following a, loading operation and to catchdust which, otherwise might fall into the atmosphere from the wall of tube 40.

Having thus describedwthe several elements of an apparatus for employing .the invention, a cycle of operation thereof will be brieflyfoutlined. With filling tube 40 empty and with .an. empty lined crucible available, the crucible first is positioned withinthe crucible cradle 13 occupying its lowermose position on the. guide'rods 12. Pressure fluid is supplied to cylinder 20 through pipe 19 and is vented'from, the cylinder through pipe 18 thus raising the cradle 13 to its,.-uppern1ost position. Appropriate means are then used to clamp housing 30 to the crucible cradle assembly and the suction means connected to conduit 34 may be placed in operation. The filling attachment cover is removed and a measured amount of the mixed materials are deposited preferably by remote control means and in a uniformly mixed body into the hopper .and thenceintothe bottom of tube 40. Cover plate 63 is then replaced'and suction line 34 placed in operation.

With a predetermined relief pressure established on pressure fluid line 19, motor 15 may then be started and the above described filling and compacting as shown by Figures 2 and 3 will ensue. Each time thecompacting pressure reaches the valve set'for'the relief'pressure in line '19, a small amount of pressure fluid will be forced out of the bottom of cylinder 20 and an equivalent amount added to thetop of that cylinder. As thisoccurs the crucible cradle assembly 13 is retracted downwardly stepwise and doesnot tend to rise during the next upward movement of the filling and compacting equipment. Accordingly, duringthe rise. of thissequiprnentanother amount of properly, mixed material falls from tube 40 through spider 46 and is tamped asthe equipment; makes its subsequent downward movement.

Finally when the crucible is filled, with preferably the contents of tube 40 being exhausted simultaneously, the connections between housing 30 and crucible cradle 13 are released and the loaded crucible is removed to another station for further processing.

Although this invention has been described with re spect to particular embodiments thereof, it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A filling and compacting apparatus adapted to deposit a mixture of dust-forming solid materials in a container while confining the materials against escape into the surrounding atmosphere including, means supporting said container, a covered hopper receiving said mixture of materials, a movable filling tube connected at one end to said hopper and extending into said container at a second end, compacting means at the second end of said tube interiorly thereof, means for reciprocating said filling tube within said container and means for changing the relative positioning of said filling tube and container in dependence upon the pressure established upon the material by the compacting means as material is compacted in said container.

2. A filling and compacting apparatus adapted to deposit a mixture of dust-forming solid materials in a container while confining the materials against escape into the surrounding atmosphere including, means supporting said container, a covered hopper receiving said mixture of materials, a movable filling tube connected at one end to said hopper and extending into said container at a second end, a housing surrounding said tube adjacent the upper side of said container and adapted to receive dust particles deposited on the exterior of the tube during the filling operation, compacting means at the second end of said tube interiorlythereof, means for reciprocating said filling tube within said container and means for changing the, relative positioning of said filling tube and container in dependence upon the pressure established upon the material .by the compacting means as material is compacted in said container.

3. Apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said housing is mounted upon said container supporting means during the filling operation.

4. Apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said housing is connected to a vacuum source during the filling operation.

5. A dust-tight filling and compacting apparatus adapted to deposit a mixture of solid materials in a container including, means supporting said container, a hopper receiving said mixture of materials, a closure for said. hopper, a movable double walled filling tube having a space between said walls and connected at one end to'said hopper and extending into said container at a second end, the inner portion of said tube being adapted to transfer materials to the container and the outer portions being adapted to transfer displaced air to said hopper, .com-

.ing includes an apertured plate member adapted to be detachably mounted upon said container supporting means.

7. Apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said housing is provided with a seal having an air leak passage adjacent its contact with the exterior of the movable tube and is connected to a suction source thereby to remove dust particles deposited on the exterior of said tube.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said compacting means comprises an open spider member.

9. In combination, a filling and compacting apparatus adapted to deposit a mixture of solid materials in a displaceable container including a hopper receiving said mixture of materials, a movable filling tube connected at one end to said hopper and extending into said container at a second end, compacting means at the second end of said tube interiorly thereof, container supporting means adapted initially to support the container floor adjacent said compacting means, means for retracting said container supporting means during the filling operation in dependence upon the pressure established upon the material by the compacting means, and means for reciprocating said filling tube within said container.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said retracting means includes a fluid pressure system.

11. In combination, a filling and compacting apparatus adapted to deposit a mixture of solid materials in a displaceable container having a frangible lining including a hopper receiving said mixture of materials, a movable filling tube connected at one end to said hopper and extending into the space within said container lining at a second end, compacting means at the second end of said tube interiorly thereof, container supporting means adapted initially to support the container floor adjacent said compacting means, means for retracting said container supporting means during the filling operation in dependence upon the pressure established upon the material by the compacting means, and means for reciprocating said filling tube within said container.

12. Apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein the container supporting means includes a resilient shock absorbing structure supporting the bottom of said container.

13. A filling and compacting apparatus adapted to deposit a mixture of solid materials in a container including, means supporting said container, a hopper receiving said mixture of materials, a movable filling tube connected at one end to said hopper and extending into said container at a second end, compacting means at the second end of said tube interiorly thereof, a rotatable shaft, means driven by said shaft for effecting reciprocation of said'tube and for exerting tamping pressure upon the material fed into said container and means for changing the relative positioning of said filling tube and container in dependence upon said tamping pressure as material is compacted in said container.

14. Apparatus of the class described including a resiliently mounted container supporting means, a container, a hopper for receiving material to be loaded into said container, a movable filling tube connected at one end to said hopper and extending into said container adjacent the bottom thereof at its second end, an apertured compacting means attached interiorly to said tube adjacent said second end, means for reciprocating said tube within said container thereby to permit material contained with said tube to flow through said compacting means when said tube is moved in one direction and to be compacted in the container by said compacting means when said tube is moved in the reverse direction and means for changing the relative positioning of said filling tube and container. in dependence upon the pressure established upon the material by said compacting means as material is compacted in said container.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said resiliently mounted supporting means includes a piston adapted to be displaced in a pressure fluid cylinder upon attainment of a predetermined compacting pressure by said reciprocating tube.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for reciprocating said tube includes a motor driven rocker shaft adapted to impart to said tube a positive movement with a predetermined range of travell 17. Filling and compacting apparatus of the class described including a container, an open ended hollow tube adapted to extend into said container and having an imperforate inner wall and an outer wall spaced therefrom to provide an air passage between said walls, a plurality of apertures in said outer Wall adjacent one end thereof, an apertured compacting means joining said walls at said one end, means completely closing the air passage at said one end of the tube adjacent said compacting means, a double walled covered hopper attached to the other end of said tube and having an air space at the top thereof in communication with the air passage between the tube walls, whereby displaced air from the container entering the apertures of the tube outer wall may pass into the hopper above the contents held therein for discharge into the inner wall of said tube, means for reciprocating the hopper and tube in order to discharge the hopper contents from said one end of the tube and to compact the discharged material into said container, and means for retracting the container from the one end of said tube in dependence upon the pressure established upon the material by the compacting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,492 Hadesty Mar. 9, 1886 905,017 Storck Nov. 24, 1908 1,612,479 Wellhauser Dec. 8, 1926 1,739,034 Kidwell Dec. 10, 1929 1,841,874 Borchgrevink Jan. 19, 1932 1,872,686 Cundall Aug. 23, 1932 2,136,224 Weinreich Nov. 8, 1938 2,524,560 Cote Oct. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,134 Sweden Jan. 14, 1925 425,072 Germany Feb. 10, 1926 582,846 France Dec. 29, 1924 

